Written by Robert Harling
Directed by Jordan Best
Canberra Rep at Theatre 3
14 February to 1 March, 2014
Review by Len Power 14 February 2014
A
‘Steel Magnolia’ explains author, Robert Harling, is ‘something beautiful made
of very strong stuff’. That description
perfectly characterises the six women in his play set in a small town beauty
salon in America’s Deep South in the late 1980s. Truvy’s Beauty Shop provides an oasis for six
of the town’s women. As the play
progresses we get to know more and more about their lives and relationships.
Jordan
Best’s production for Canberra Rep nicely captures the times and location of
this play and her cast all give strong performances. Nell Shipley gives a delicately nuanced
performance in the central role of Shelby and Karen Vickery brings a moving
depth and understanding to her role as Shelby’s mother. Amy Dunham impresses as a girl who finds a
new peace amongst her new friends in the salon and it’s worth the price of a
ticket just to see the sparks fly between Judi Crane as Ouiser and Liz Bradley
as Clairee. Rose Braybrook gives a nice
Southern characterisation as Truvy, the owner of the salon, but was a little
hard to hear at times.
The
set, designed by Michael Sparks, is attractive and finely detailed and costumes
by Emma Sekuless have been well chosen to suit the characters. However, the visible scene changing in low
light broke the mood somewhat and the low lighting at the start of new scenes
looked like something had gone wrong.
The strength of this play is in the level of involvement we feel with
these characters.
Originally published in Canberra City News digital edition 16 February 2014